This is a discussion on How to control your emotions. within the online poker forums, in the Learning Poker section; The same reason that made me came to this site 2 years ago is the same reason I'm back again. I've gained good knowledge andvhelp

How to control your emotions.

The same reason that made me came to this site 2 years ago is the same reason I'm back again. I've gained good knowledge andvhelp here and all that needed to done was to apply what I've learnt to myself but it's easier said than done. I have a good poker strategy that I used all the time. Something I came up with to make a small profit in a short amount of time, actually something that is fun and comfortable for me. But that is only accurate when I'm all game, calm , full focused and stick to my bankroll. However that's not the case, as I win more and keep climbing so is my confidence that I cannot help which fools me into thinking I should step up my stakes which takes me out of my comfort zone, puts me under pressure and my strategy falls apart. The first couple losses I can endure but as I'm fully aware I'm not playing at my best and should step back down or take a break I don't I just keep going titling all the way. The worst part is I literally throw away hundreds of dollars in minutes, I don't even put up a fight. I know this because as soon as I sit down the same bastard that got me is back at my table
I know I shouldn't call them a bastard because this is what makes them better than me , just sitting there waiting for guys like me to show up. I know this because I do the same at lower stakes but I don't know how they can decipline themselves like that. I know that's the only advantage they have over me otherwise I can beat them when I'm game. Unfortunately for myself I'm never game at that point. I banned myself for 6 months on stars thinking I will use the time to invest in disciplining myself but after it was lifted it's the same suit over again. I just can't control my emotions. The sad part is I know I'm a good player and can even make a living off of poker but it's impossible because my emotions get into the way and all my "learnt" discipline, strategies and bankroll management goes out the window. So here I am once again asking. How to you really control yourself when you're winning. Or should I just permanently quit now and save myself from myself in the long run. I banned myself for another month so I figured I can try to master this once again.

#2

26th January 2016, 8:46 PM

ShoTyme [250]

Online Poker at: Bovada

Game: Holdem

Search the Peter Principle. It applies with poker as well from my experience. You may be able to beat one level but not the next. Maybe learn to be happy winning a small amount without jumping in stakes for awhile. Sure it's good to take shots now and then, but seriously wait a long time before doing so again. Beat the game CONSISTENTLY over prolonged period of time. This give you even more confidence which you are sorely lacking at this point. It will teach you discipline which you apparently have little. Finally, it will give you the proper roll which it appears you do not possess. Good luck on you next attempt!

#3

27th January 2016, 12:17 AM

crusinnn [421]

Poker at: PS,FT

Game: holdem

Originally Posted by ShoTyme

Search the Peter Principle. It applies with poker as well from my experience. You may be able to beat one level but not the next. Maybe learn to be happy winning a small amount without jumping in stakes for awhile. Sure it's good to take shots now and then, but seriously wait a long time before doing so again. Beat the game CONSISTENTLY over prolonged period of time. This give you even more confidence which you are sorely lacking at this point. It will teach you discipline which you apparently have little. Finally, it will give you the proper roll which it appears you do not possess. Good luck on you next attempt!

Thanks for your advise I will check that out. I think I'm stuck at the first level.

#4

27th January 2016, 3:18 AM

AckLakCak3 [61]

Online Poker at: ACR

Game: Hold Em

If you execute proper bankroll management, then it removes a lot of the emotion that causes tilt from the equation. Don't play outside of your limits, don't bump up in limits trying to recover losses, and most importantly walk away when your emotion is controlling your decision making. Know and understand that variance is a part of the game, and your success is dependent on how you manage the variance.

#5

28th January 2016, 9:14 PM

crusinnn [421]

Poker at: PS,FT

Game: holdem

re: Poker & How to control your emotions.

Originally Posted by AckLakCak3

If you execute proper bankroll management, then it removes a lot of the emotion that causes tilt from the equation. Don't play outside of your limits, don't bump up in limits trying to recover losses, and most importantly walk away when your emotion is controlling your decision making. Know and understand that variance is a part of the game, and your success is dependent on how you manage the variance.

I understand but how do you teach yourself that? It's like I know that but can't help myself. It's weird because I'm perfectly fine playing live games.

#6

29th January 2016, 12:31 PM

bizbakol [63]

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: holdem

Psychological factor is very important in the poker. If you lose so many times, you will be anger time to time. If you can manage your emotions and think maybe you can turn the luck on your side again. Just be patient!

#7

30th January 2016, 8:27 AM

AckLakCak3 [61]

Poker at: ACR

Game: Hold Em

Originally Posted by crusinnn

I understand but how do you teach yourself that? It's like I know that but can't help myself. It's weird because I'm perfectly fine playing live games.

Honestly, I have had this problem at times. You have to be self aware. My self awareness taught me that success at a lower level indicated that I could have success at a higher level, and I would throw bankroll management out the window. I would enjoy success at the higher level, for brief period before variance would begin to eat my roll. I would begin to act desperately, aggressively trying to win my lost bankroll back as quickly as I lost it. Obviously, not a smart business decision in the game of poker! I have had to take a step back from the game to educate myself on the most basic principle of success in poker, bankroll management. From the tone of your original post, I suspect that your dilemma is similar to mine. Hope this helps.

#8

30th January 2016, 1:30 PM

STL FAN [115]

Online Poker at: ACR

Game: Holdem

Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. It is generally said to include 3 skills: Emotional awareness, including the ability to identify your own emotions and those of others. The ability to harness emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problems solving. The ability to manage emotions, including the ability to regulate your own emotions, and the ability to cheer up or calm down another person.

Poker is a game that is built on emotion good and bad, players find they need the ability to control emotions because it is the root of their problems. Emotion is to be embraced and not suppressed because to focus, to have “A” game focus it takes a certain amount of emotion to maintain our “A” game because of the way the brain has to play poker. For example, abstract, incomplete information, the brain has a hard time using this information correctly, consistently. It is up to the individual to use emotional intelligence to help the brain stay stable throughout a three hour session and after three hours our game will start to fall off. Confidence will also fall off when a person does not have full understanding of their emotions.

On the surface a person could identify problems they would naturally attribute their problems too, but actually when a person recognizes the results of emotions, such as tilt, bad bankroll management as a couple of examples they claim needing to control their emotions. However, the person has not put in the time to gain skill of understanding, embracing their emotions, and the role they play in each of our games. Mastering any part of poker is hard and to maintain self-mastery is not banning yourself from the game. A person should say to themselves I need work on understanding and gaining skill about how emotions affect my play? While this break is ongoing I will study how I can gain skill using emotional intelligence as an example. Eventually a person will recognize as it is happening for example, I am about to lose control of my emotions, talk themselves past this point, not lose control, and continue to play through what was once a situation of having to ban myself from playing as an example. My suggestion would be to journal your thoughts and target spots in your game to work on while playing to recognize that will allow for focus when emotions start to erode your game. Glad to meet you and hope you have success in your journey.

#9

30th January 2016, 5:43 PM

Watchurblinds [15]

That's a great think to discuss. I thought I am good in keeping my emotions down, but it happens from time to time that I can't controll my emotions. I read this thread carefully, but I still don't know how react in the right way =(

#10

31st January 2016, 3:43 PM

es530 [740]

Online Poker at: PokerStars

Game: holdem

re: Poker & How to control your emotions.

Emotion exists only if you exist, if you are willing to cancel up, that is, set aside your ego, emotions, has no more space. But poker involves more factors and probably you have more leaks.

#11

31st January 2016, 11:18 PM

Henry Minute [2,696]

Poker at: FullTilt

Game: holdem

Originally Posted by AckLakCak3

If you execute proper bankroll management, then it removes a lot of the emotion that causes tilt from the equation. Don't play outside of your limits, don't bump up in limits trying to recover losses, and most importantly walk away when your emotion is controlling your decision making. Know and understand that variance is a part of the game, and your success is dependent on how you manage the variance.

I agree with almost everything you say here. The only thing I disagree with is your first one. I have never suffered emotional swings regardless of the state of my bankroll.

#12

1st February 2016, 11:13 AM

ohshootmybad [8,047]

-Do you play cash or MTTs/SNGs?
-What is your current BRM plan? What is the BRM plan for moving up/down stakes?
-Is poker your main source of income?
-What upsets you more, losing money or losing big hands? Example: If you lose an all-in in 100NL with AA vs 72, do you immediately think "I can't believe I lost $100!" or "I can't believe I lost with AA vs 72!?"
-Do you keep constant track of your BR (on your own or with some type of poker tracker)?
-Does positive or negative fluctuation of your BR determine if you had a good/bad session?

#13

1st February 2016, 2:53 PM

dejan85 [697]

well juste accept in poker everything is possibble,and it will be easier,but when you lose some unreal hands is very stressly,and emotional especily if is some good tournament or cash pot....

#14

1st February 2016, 3:33 PM

StArDemonn [426]

Online Poker at: Pokerstars

Music is the key...

#15

1st February 2016, 7:22 PM

velhasil [70]

re: Poker & How to control your emotions.

Vodka

#16

1st February 2016, 9:01 PM

Brawo [48]

Online Poker at: PokerStars

Game: Holdem

bizbakol have a right. Sometimes i rest from poker, until i will be ready, and "clean" in mind, you should try.

#17

2nd February 2016, 9:07 AM

gametime200 [6]

Cant Stop Calling All Ins!

I have 2 problems in tournaments. I find myself getting mad when a guy goes all in preflop several times in short order and pushes me off a good hand when I am certain he is bluffing. I find myself waiting for a good hand with the intention of busting his bubble and "teaching him a lesson". That's usually when I get to relearn one!
The other issue I have is related to calling all in as well. I set rules for myself in tournaments (mostly free rolls at this point). For example, I will make a rule for myself that no matter what, I will not call anyone's all in without an Aces over Boat and that is as long as there is not a chance someone has quads. I will stick to my principles and rules until I get to the final table, i.e. final 15 players, I have chip lead or close, I have a great hand, I 3BB raise pre flop, my opponent calls, I raise to 60% pot post flop, opponent calls, I check the turn and he goes all-in. I feel certain I have the best hand, only one possible card that he could have can beat me. Since the blinds and bets are quit large at this time, I'm pretty pot committed. Instead of sticking to my principle and folding, I call his all-in and "BAM" I'm out of the Tournament and out of the money!
Does anyone have any advice on making myself stop and not get caught up in this dilemma? Much appreciated!